Safran Aero Boosters and Bmt Aerospace will produce key components for P&W's F135 engine
Equips 5th‑generation F-35 Lightning II multirole fighter aircraft in service with Belgium

In the context of industrial compensation, an agreement reached today between Brussels and Pratt & Whitney during a ceremony organized to celebrate the arrival of the first Belgian F-35s
As part of Belgium's acquisition of fifth-generation F-35 fighter aircraft, an agreement was signed today between the Belgian government and Pratt & Whitney, a company of the Rtx group, manufacturer of the F135 engine that equips the F-35 Lightning II aircraft. The agreement was signed at the Base Aérienne Jean Offenberg in Florennes during the ceremony organized to celebrate the arrival of the first 4 Belgian F-35s and in the presence of David Clarinval, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour and the Economy, Theo Francken, Minister of Defence and other senior civil and military authorities (see AVIONEWS).
With this agreement, "we emphasise our commitment to strengthening Belgian industrial participation in the F-35 program, thereby contributing to a significant economic return for our country. This agreement guarantees important industrial benefits for the aerospace sector in Belgium. First, it will allow Safran Aero Boosters to establish the production capacity for key components of the F135 engine, and second it will consolidate the partnership between Safran Aero Boosters and BMT Aerospace, which will jointly implement an innovative production concept for the main components of the engine. These industrial initiatives strengthen Belgium's position in the value chain of the F-35 program", reports a statement today.
For several years Safran Aero Boosters, based in Wallonia, and BMT Aerospace, based in Flanders, have been collaborating on a research and technology project aimed at developing advanced production capabilities for components of the F135 engine. This partnership will be further consolidated by the implementation of the strategic industrial project with Pratt & Whitney, demonstrating balanced cooperation between the two regions of the country, the statement continues, which concludes: "These tangible industrial benefits further underline the government's commitment to promoting economic development in the defence sector and the creation of jobs in Belgium. This progress builds on previous initiatives and represents an additional economic return within the broader framework of the F-35 program. They are the result of a joint and concerted effort by the Walloon Region, the Flemish Region, the Belgian Ministry of Defence and the Federal Government (in the areas of Defence and the Economy)".
AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency